The Housing Authority is extending the closing date for applications for the sale of government apartments and maisonettes up to June 11.

The authority said in a statement it was extending the date following the public's request as many were not managing to gather all the required documents on time.

The HA said it had 117 apartments and maisonettes for sale at Bugibba, Burmarrad, Kirkop, Marsaxlokk, Mriehel, Mtarfa, Naxxar, Pembroke, Qawra, Qrendi, Tarxien, Zebbug, Zurrieq and Mgarr. They are subsidised by 25 per cent on the commercial price.

Eight of the units had three bedrooms, 33 two and four were single.

Last week the ministry said that more than 300 people had collected applications and hundreds visited the units during an open weekend.

The ministry had been referring to opposition criticism that some of the units had been previously issued for sale but were not sold because the price being requested by the authority was the market price.

The authority said the units were aimed at married or single parent households with children, engaged couples and single people over 21. Young people who lived in an institution, were fostered or were disabled could apply if they were over 18.

The scheme was open to people whose income did not exceed 35,000 euros a year and whose assets did not exceed 40,000 in the case of married couples, single parents or engaged couples.

The annual income of single, separated or widowed applicants who did not have children living with them should not exceed 20,000 euros and their assets should not be worth more than 25,000 euros.

Further information is available from the Housing Authority in Macerata Street, Floriana, Mondays to Fridays between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

www.housingauthority.com.mt